India should have nuclear attack submarines: France

France on Friday gave its backing to India developing a nuclear attack submarine fleet, with a senior naval officer saying it was a "legitimate" step as the country emerges as a major global force.

The commander of the French Joint Forces in the Indian Ocean, Vice Admiral Gerard Valin, said India's military assets had to develop to reflect its position as a key world player, including in maintaining world stability.

"A nuclear-propelled submarine gives you mobility. France has a nuclear deterrent. To have a nuclear deterrent you must have submarines capable of ensuring the security of a large area," he added.

"I think that India will be in the same situation" in the future, he said.

India's naval chief said in 2007 that the country's first domestically built nuclear-powered submarine would be ready for sea trials by this year.

The vessel is expected to be an adaptation of the Russian Charlie II class submarine and capable of firing nuclear warheads.

Since then, India has test-fired nuclear-capable ballistic missiles from undersea platforms as part of an ongoing programme to develop land and sea-borne nuclear and conventional missile systems.

France and India have been steadily developing military ties.

Last week the Indian and French navies took part in anti-submarine exercises off the coast of the western state of Goa, said Valin.

India's navy is also involved in the international effort to combat piracy off the Horn of Africa. Part of Valin's mandate is marine law enforcement, including targeting high seas hijacks by armed bandits in the same area.

In October 2005 India signed contracts worth 2.4 billion euros (3.8 billion dollars) with Armaris, which is owned by France's Thales, and European defence firm MBDA to buy six Scorpene submarines.

They are being assembled in India and are slated to begin operations from 2015.

French companies are also looking to make inroads into India's civilian atomic energy market, following the lifting last year of an embargo on nuclear deals with India imposed in 1974 after New Delhi staged nuclear tests.

Guys tell me one thing, is it possible that scorpenes can be fitted with nuclear reactors if needed?

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Lol, thats what I do wonder, let the Brazilian do it and we have the smallest nuclear submarine in the world, AFAIK Advanced Technology Vessel will be the smallest nuclear submarine and Skate class submarine are the smallest nuclear powered submarines ever built with 2,850 tons submerged.

expect a Scorpene fitted with a nuclear reactor to have a fat belly...lol

France is aware about the ATV and this statment gives legtimacy and acceptance about our ATV

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France is making all the right noises, they have been very supportive of us throughout. Rafale scores more brownie points. India should seek to develop an even more closer all encompassing relationship with France.

France might want to sell its hunder class nuclear sub what is wrong in that

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Sir but then won't they will come without SLBMs and SLCMs of over 300km range ?

France is aware about the ATV and this statment gives legtimacy and acceptance about our ATV

France might want to sell its hunder class nuclear sub what is wrong in that

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Which one is the Hunder class?
I believe selling a Nuclear Submarine is close to impossible for France moreover leasing nuclear subs are very costly and also not feasible and you wont take a leased sub unless you are on a research and development process as in the case of India with its ATV and leased subs from Russia. And their is no scope for further study on ATV with regard to other nuclear subs around unless the project totally fails or India is in a hunt for some other class of SSBN/SSN.

Which one is the Hunder class?
I believe selling a Nuclear Submarine is close to impossible for France moreover leasing nuclear subs are very costly and also not feasible and you wont take a leased sub unless you are on a research and development process as in the case of India with its ATV and leased subs from Russia. And their is no scope for further study on ATV with regard to other nuclear subs around unless the project totally fails or India is in a hunt for some other class of SSBN/SSN.

Guys tell me one thing, is it possible that scorpenes can be fitted with nuclear reactors if needed?

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It wouldn't make sense to do so..but like someone said Brazil is doing it. Attack subs that are nuclear powered are usually bigger than the scorpene because they need to dissipate the sound better and so the modified Scorpene wouldn't really be an efficient hunter-killer